APPARATUS, MANAGEMENT METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT
An apparatus that manages a system including a gateway device, a first device connected with the gateway device and a second device that is connected with the first device and has a greater number of devices intervening before the gateway device than the first device. The apparatus includes a configuration information acquirer that acquires configuration information from the gateway device, the first device and the second device, wherein the configuration information includes information indicating a device type, information indicating a type of connection interface, and connected-device identification information identifying a device connected with each device; and a function specifier that specifies a remote activation function activatable by the apparatus for each of the gateway device and the first device.
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This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-85868 filed on Apr. 8, 2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety and for all purposes.
BACKGROUND1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates to managing a system including a plurality of devices connected by various interfaces.
2. Related Art
With recent advancement of various interfaces for connection between devices, various devices are connected in the home or small business. For example, a personal computer and a router are connected by wireless connection; a TV tuner and a router are connected by a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable or an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) cable; and a printer and a NAS (Network Attached Storage) are connected by a USB cable and the NAS and a router are further connected by a LAN (Local Area Network) cable.
A management system is introduced for a network system including connections of a number of devices, in order to check the connection configuration of the respective devices and gather information required for locating a failure (e.g., error log). For example, an SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) management system has been proposed as the management device for managing a network system where devices are connected through LAN. In this management system, a network map including devices as management objects are expressed by symbols of preset shapes is displayed on the management device.
In the conventional management system, however, when the management device is used for remote operations of providing various settings, such as an IP address, in each management object device and obtaining the status of each management object device (for example, obtaining a list of files stored in a memory unit of the management object device), the user is required to have troublesome operations, for example, to load a management application program for each management object device on the management device and select a desired menu option among various menu options for settings.
SUMMARYConsequently, there is a need to facilitate the operations of a management device with respect to each device in a system including a plurality of devices.
According to one exemplary embodiment, an apparatus is configured to manage a system, wherein the system comprises a gateway device, a first device connected with the gateway device and a second device that is connected with the first device and has a greater number of devices intervening before the gateway device than the first device, the apparatus includes:
a configuration information acquirer that acquires configuration information from the gateway device, the first device and the second device, wherein the configuration information includes information indicating a device type, information indicating a type of connection interface, and connected-device identification information identifying a device connected with each device; and
a function specifier that specifies a remote activation function activatable by the apparatus for each of the gateway device and the first device.
According to another embodiment, a method of managing a system by using a apparatus having a display, wherein the system comprises a gateway device, a first device connected with the gateway device and a second device that is connected with the first device and has a greater number of devices intervening before the gateway device than the first device is directed. The method includes: acquiring, by the apparatus, configuration information from the gateway device, the first device and the second device, wherein the configuration information includes information indicating a device type, information indicating a type of a connection interface and connected-device identification information that identifies a device connected with the each device; and
specifying, by the apparatus, a remote activation function activatable by the management device for each of the gateway device and the first device.
According to another embodiment, a non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer program instructions, which when executed by an apparatus, causes the apparatus to perform a method of managing a system comprising a gateway device, a first device connected with the gateway device and a second device that is connected with the first device and has a greater number of devices intervening before the gateway device than the first device is directed. The method includes: acquiring configuration information from the gateway device, the first device and the second device, wherein the configuration information includes information indicating a device type, information indicating a type of a connection interface and connected-device identification information that identifies a device connected with the each device; and
specifying a remote activation function activatable by the management device for each of the gateway device and the first device.
A1. General Configuration
In the system 500 with the router 100 centered, the devices are connected via either a network interface or a bus interface. In the description of the embodiment, the “network interface” means a connection interface conforming to, for example, the IEEE802.3 standard or the IEEE802.11 standard or a connection interface allowing mutual access to a plurality of devices, such as PLC (Power Line Communications), whilst the “bus interface” means a connection interface allowing access to one connected device, such as USB (Universal Serial Bus) or WHDI (Wireless Home Digital Interface). A higher-level device (e.g., device server 331) connected with a lower-level device (e.g., TV tuner 341) by the bus interface is allowed to access to the lower-level device, while any other device (e.g., hard disk recorder 301) is not allowed to directly access to this lower-level device.
The hard disk recorder 301, the game machine 302, the management PC 303, the wireless LAN access point 304 and the TV receiver 321 are directly connected with the router 100 by wireless connection. The device server 331, the NAS 332 and the TV tuner 333 are directly connected with the router 100 by wired connection. The two personal computers 311 and 312 are, however, indirectly connected with the router 100 via the wireless LAN access point 304. The TV tuner 341 and the printer 342 are also indirectly connected with the router 100 via the device server 331 and via the NAS332, respectively. The respective devices are connected in this manner with the router 100 centered, since the router 100 serves to relay data (packets) between devices and enables connection of devices having different connection interfaces. The system 500 of such connection configuration is adoptable in the home or small business. The expression that two devices are “connected” includes both the meanings that the two devices are directly connected and that the two devices are indirectly connected. The expression that the two devices are directly connected means that the two devices are connected without any intermediate device, whilst the expression that the two devices are indirectly connected means that the two devices are connected via another device. For example, the expression of “directly connected with the router 100” means “connected with the router 100 without any other device”, whilst the expression of “indirectly connected with the router 100” means “connected with the router 100 via another device”. It should be further noted that when two devices are directly connected, the connection is facilitated by a bus interface or network interface, as defined above. In other words, while there may be no device disposed between the two devices that are directly connected, these devices are still connected via a bus interface, a cable or wire, or a wireless connection.
The router 100 includes a mobile communication control circuit DP1, a wireless LAN control circuit WP1, a WHDI control circuit WHP, two connection ports LP1 and LP2 and a USB control circuit UP1. The detailed structure of the router 100 including these circuits and ports will be described later. The router 100 is a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) router to relay packets (layer 2 frames and layer 3 packets) between the connected devices. Additionally, the router 100 has a hard disk drive, which is shared by another device to provide the NAS functions. The router 100 also serves as a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server that allocates an IP address to each device using TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) as the communication protocol, among the devices included in the system 500.
The hard disk recorder 301 includes a high-capacity hard disk and a wireless LAN control circuit. The hard disk recorder 301 is wirelessly connected with the router 100 by the wireless LAN control circuit. The hard disk recorder 301 records data received from the router 100, while reading out specified data and sending the read-out data to the router 100.
The game machine 302 includes a wireless LAN control circuit and is wirelessly connected with the router 100 by this wireless LAN control circuit. The game machine 302 transfers data on game contents (including voice and image data and data on operation details) to and from the router 100.
The management PC 303 is connected with the router 100 via a wireless LAN and manages the connection configuration of the respective devices in the system 500 and the operating conditions of the respective devices. The management PC 303 corresponds to the apparatus according to one embodiment of the disclosure. The details of the management PC 303 will be described later.
The wireless LAN access point 304 serves as a base station in the infrastructure mode, and wirelessly communicates with the two personal computers 311 and 312 serving as wireless LAN clients, while wirelessly communicating with the router 100 serving as the higher-level device.
Each of the two personal computers 311 and 312 includes a wireless LAN control circuit and wirelessly communicates with the wireless LAN access point 304 to transfer data via the wireless LAN.
The TV receiver 321 has an embedded TV tuner to receive TV airwaves (video signals and sound signals) and output video data and sound data. The TV receiver 321 also includes a WHDI control circuit to establish WHDI-based wireless communication with the router 100. The connection of the TV receiver 321 with the router 100 via WHDI enables, for example, the images and sounds output from the TV receiver 321 to be sent to the hard disk recorder 301 via the router 100 and stored in the hard disk recorder 301.
The device server 331 includes a USB control circuit and a wired LAN control circuit, and is connected with the TV tuner 341 by a USB cable and with the router 100 (connection port LP1) by a LAN cable. The device server 331 receives video data and sound data output from the TV tuner 341 according to a USB protocol and outputs the received video data and sound data in the form of wired LAN frames (e.g., Ethernet (registered trademark) frames) to the router 100. The device server 331, on the other hand, creates a USB frame from frames received from the router 100 and outputs the USB frame to the TV tuner 341. Using the device server 331 to connect the TV tuner 341 to a wired LAN enables, for example, the video data and sound data output from the TV tuner 341 to be sent to and recorded in the hard disk recorder 301 via the wired LAN or wireless LAN or to be sent to and reproduced by the TV receiver 321.
The TV tuner 341 receives TV airwaves and outputs video data and sound data. The TV tuner 341 includes a USB control circuit to send the video data and sound data to the device server 331 by USB.
The NAS 332 includes a high-capacity hard disk, a wired LAN control circuit and a USB control circuit and is connected with the router 100 (connection port LP2) by a LAN cable and with the printer 342 by a USB cable. The NAS 332 records data received from the router 100 or the printer 342, and reads out recorded data and outputting the read-out data to the router 100 or the printer 342.
The printer 342 is, for example, an inkjet printer and serves to receive images stored in the NAS 332 via the USB cable and print the received images. The printer 342 has image processing functions, for example, sharpness control and skin color control and sends and stores the processed images to and in the NAS 332 via the USB cable.
The TV tuner 333 includes a USB control circuit and outputs the received TV airwaves (video signals and sound signals) to the router 100 via the USB cable. Connecting the TV tuner 333 with the router 100 intends to achieve the same purposes as those by connecting the TV tuner 341 with the router 100 via the device server 331 described above. In one expected application, the TV tuner 341 may be placed, for example, in a child's room, while the TV tuner 333 may be placed, for example, in a living room.
In the system 500, an IP (Internet Protocol) address is allocated to each of the devices connected to either the wireless LAN or the wired LAN, in order to allow TCP/IP-based communication. More specifically, an IP address “IP11” is allocated to the wireless LAN control circuit WP1 of the router 100, an IP address “IP12” to the connection port LP1 of the router 100, an IP address “IP13” to the connection port LP2 of the router 100, and an IP address “IP14” to the mobile communication control circuit DP1 of the router 100. IP addresses “IP1”, “IP2”, “IP3”, “IP4”, “IP5”, “IP6”, “IP7” and “IP8” are respectively allocated to the hard disk recorder 301, the game machine 302, the management PC 303, the wireless LAN access point 304, the device server 331, the NAS 332, the personal computer 311 and the personal computer 312. Although the respective IP addresses are represented by symbolic values for the convenience of explanation, a 32-bit address (IPv4) or a 128-bit address (IPv6) is actually allocated to each device. In the system 500, the router 100 (DHCP server) allocates an IP address to each device when the device enters the wireless LAN or the wired LAN.
A MAC (Media Access Control) address is allocated to each of the devices connected to either the wireless LAN or the wired LAN, in order to allow communication conforming to the IEEE802.3 standard, such as Ethernet (registered trademark). Specifically, a MAC address “MA11” is allocated to the wireless LAN control circuit WP1 of the router 100, a MAC address “MA12” to the connection port LP1 of the router 100, a MAC address “MA13” to the connection port LP2 of the router 100, and a MAC address “MA 14” to the mobile communication control circuit DP1 of the router 100. MAC addresses “MA1”, “MA2”, “MA3”, “MA4”, “MA5”, “MA6”, “MA7” and “MA8” are respectively allocated to the hard disk recorder 301, the game machine 302, the management PC 303, the wireless LAN access point 304, the device server 331, the NAS 332, the personal computer 311 and the personal computer 312. Although the respective MAC addresses are represented by the symbolic values for the convenience of explanation, a 48-bit address is actually allocated to each device.
A device name is set in each of the devices included in the system 500. Specifically, a device name “RT1” is set to the router 100, a device name “R1” to the hard disk recorder 301, “G1” to the game machine 301, “P” to the management PC 303, “A1” to the wireless LAN access point 304, “P2” to the personal computer 311, “P3” to the personal computer 312, “TV1” to the TV receiver 321, “DS” to the device server 331, “N1” to the NAS 332, “T1” to the TV tuner 333, “T2” to the TV tuner 341 and “PR” to the printer 342. The device names for the respective devices may be set, for example, before shipment and stored in nonvolatile memories (e.g., EEPROMs) of the respective devices.
In the system 500, some of the devices connected with the router 100 have a configuration information acquisition-relevant module CP. Specifically, the hard disk recorder 301, the game machine 302, the management PC 303, the wireless LAN access point 304, the TV receiver 321, the device server 331, the NAS 332 and the TV tuner 333 have the configuration information acquisition-relevant module CP. The configuration information acquisition-relevant module CP performs a configuration information gathering process described later. None of the two personal computers 311 and 312, the TV tuner 341 and the printer 342, however, has the configuration information acquisition-relevant module CP.
A2. Structure of Router
A preset application program is stored in the EEPROM 122, and the CPU 110 performs this application program under a specific operating system to serve as a configuration information acquirer 110a, a configuration information transmitter 110b, a DHCP server functional module 110c, a packet relay module 110d and an NAS controller 110e.
The configuration information acquirer 110a is a functional module to obtain the own configuration information and the configuration information of other devices. According to this embodiment, the “configuration information” includes information on the device type, the device name, the connection interface type with another device and the operating condition. The configuration information transmitter 110b sends the configuration information obtained by the configuration information acquirer 110a to the management PC 303. The DHCP server functional module 110c functions as a DHCP server to allocate an IP address and a subnet mask to each device and provide information, such as address of a gateway server. The packet relay module 110d relays an IP packet received via each of the interfaces included in the router 100, based on the IP address. The NAS controller 110e manages access control and storage areas when the router 100 serves as the NAS with using the hard disk 126 as a shared disk.
The EEPROM 122 includes a configuration information storage module S1 and a lower-level device list storage module S2. The configuration information storage module S1 stores the configuration information obtained from other devices, in addition to the own configuration information. The own configuration information includes, for example, the device name as the router, the remaining capacity of the embedded hard disk 126, the received signal strength from each device connected by the wireless LAN, the type of each interface included in the router 100 (wireless LAN, wired LAN, WHDI or USB), the operating condition of each circuit (e.g., during normal operation or during wireless connection), and an association list of the wireless LAN. These information may be obtained by an initialization sequence (for example, USB enumeration) defined in each interface, for example, at the start-up of the router 100 or on connection of a USB device to the router 100. These information may also be obtained by the configuration information gathering process described later. The lower-level device list storage module S2 stores a lower-level device list described later.
The wireless LAN control circuit WP1 includes a modulator, an amplifier and an antenna and serves as a wireless LAN access point conforming to, for example, the IEEE802.11b/g standard to wirelessly communicate with the hard disk recorder 301, the game machine 302 and the management PC 303 as wireless LAN clients. The wireless LAN control circuit WP1 also wirelessly communicates with the wireless LAN access point 304 serving as another wireless LAN access point.
The WHDI control circuit WHP includes a modulator, an amplifier and an antenna and performs WHDI-based wireless communication (near field wireless communication in a frequency range of 5 GHz). The mobile communication control circuit DP1 includes a modulator, an amplifier and an antenna and serves as a mobile communications station conforming to, for example, the 3G/HSPA protocol to wireless communicate with an access point of a mobile communications network.
The wireless LAN control circuit 170 has four connection ports LP1 to LP4 and is involved in reception and transmission of frames in conformity with the IEEE802.3 standard, creation of an IP packet from received frames (layer 2 frames), and division of an IP packet including data to be output into frames (layer 2 frames).
A3. Structure of Management PC
An application program for management of the system 500 is stored in the hard disk 12, and the CPU 11 performs this application program under a specific operating system to serve as a configuration information acquirer 11a, a map generator 11b, a user interface controller 11c and a configuration information acquisition-relevant module CP.
The configuration information acquirer 11a obtains the configuration information of the respective devices included in the system 500, as well as the own configuration information. The map generator 11b generates a system configuration map for centralized management of the configuration information of the respective devices included in the system 500 and the operating conditions of the respective devices. The user interface controller 11c causes the configuration map generated by the map generator 11b to be displayed in a user-identifiable display format on the display 21. The user interface controller 11c also receives and accepts the user's various operations of the keyboard 22 and the mouse 23. The configuration information acquisition-relevant module CP obtains the configuration information of the management PC 303 and notifies the router 100 of the obtained configuration information. This configuration information acquisition-relevant module CP has the same functions as those of the configuration information acquisition-relevant modules CP provided in the devices shown in
The wireless LAN control circuit 15 includes a modulator, an amplifier and an antenna and serves as a wireless LAN client conforming to, for example, the IEEE802.11b/g standard.
The EEPROM 14 has a configuration information storage module 14a. The own configuration information of the management PC 303 and the configuration information of other devices are stored in this configuration information storage module 14a. In the illustrated example of
The input-output interface assembly 16 includes a group of interfaces used to connect the display 21, the keyboard 22 and the mouse 23 with the computer body 10.
A4. Structure of Other Device
The memory 31 consists of, for example, a RAM and an EEPROM and has a configuration information storage module 32. The configuration information storage module 32 stores the own configuration information of the device server 331 and the configuration information of each device connected with the device server 331. In the illustrated example of
The CPU 33 performs a program stored in the memory 31 to serve as a configuration information acquisition-relevant module CP and a conversion controller 33a. The configuration information acquisition-relevant module CP has the similar functions to those of the configuration information acquisition-relevant module CP of the management PC 303 shown in
Like the wired LAN control circuit 170 shown in
The device server 331 shown in
In the system 500 of the above configuration, the configuration information gathering process described below enables the user to easily manage the connection configurations and the operating conditions of the respective devices included in the system 500. The router 100 corresponds to the gateway device in the claims. The device name of each device corresponds to the device specific information in the claims, the configuration information acquirer 11a of the management PC 303 to the configuration information acquirer in the claims, the display 21 to the display unit in the claims, and the map generator 11b and the user interface controller 11c to the map display controller in the claims.
A5. Configuration Information Gathering Process
In the system 500, after the start-up of the management PC 303, the configuration information gathering process is performed at preset intervals. The configuration information acquirer 11a of the management PC 303 shown in
In response to the query from the management PC 303, the configuration information acquirer 110a of the router 100 shown in
In response to the query for configuration information from the router 100, the device with arbitrary lower-level device gathers the own configuration information and replies back this own configuration information and information representing the presence of lower-level device to the router 100 (step S305). For example, the configuration information acquisition-relevant module CP of the device server 331 shown in
As shown in
After querying each lower-level device for configuration information (step S205), the configuration information acquirer 110a of the router 100 obtains the own configuration information and stores the own configuration information into the configuration information storage module S1 (step S210). For example, the configuration information acquirer 110a may query the mobile communication control circuit DP1 for operating condition, obtain the operating condition of “during communication” and store the operating condition into the configuration information storage module S1. In another example, the configuration information acquirer 110a may query the NAS controller 110e for used capacity of the hard disk 126, obtain the operating condition of “80% in use” and store the operating condition into the configuration information storage module S1.
The configuration information acquirer 110a of the router 100 stores the configuration information received from each lower-level device into the configuration information storage module S1 shown in
The configuration information transmitter 110b of the router 100 sends the own configuration information obtained at step S210 and the lower-level device list created at step S215 to the management PC 303 (step S220).
When receiving the lower-level device list, the configuration information acquirer 11a of the management PC 303 stores the received lower-level device list into the configuration information storage module 14a and checks for the presence or absence of any lower-level device with respect to each of the devices enumerated in the lower-level device list (step S110) and queries each device with any lower-level device for configuration information (step S115). The devices with any lower-level device other than the router 100 in the system 500 include the wireless LAN access point 304, the device server 331 and the NAS 332. These devices have the setting of “present” in the lower-level device presence/absence field in the lower-level device list as shown in
As shown in
After obtaining the configuration information of each lower-level device, the configuration information acquisition-relevant module CP of the device with any lower-level device creates a lower-level device list (step S315) and sends the created lower-level device list and the own configuration information to the management PC 303 (step S320). The lower-level device list created at step S315 has the same structure as that of the lower-level device list shown in
When receiving the lower-level device list from the device with any lower-level device after step S115, the configuration information acquirer 11a of the management PC 303 performs step S110 described above again (i.e., checking for the presence or absence of any lower-level device with respect to each of the devices enumerated in the newly received lower-level device list).
The management PC 303 obtains the configuration information and the lower-level device list of the router 100 from the router 100 at step S105 and S220. In response to the query at step S105, the query for configuration information (S205) and the reply (S305) is performed between the router 100 and the wireless LAN access point 304 or the personal computer 311. The lower-level device list obtained from the router 100 includes the MAC address and the IP address of each of the devices with any lower-level device as shown in
The procedure of this embodiment repeats the processing of steps S110 and S115 in this manner until any of the lower-level devices has no further lower-level device. The personal computer 311 is the lower-level device of the wireless LAN access point 304 and is also the device with the mouse 313 as its lower-level device. In the combination (pair) of the wireless LAN access point 304 and the personal computer 311, the wireless LAN access point 304 corresponds to the first device (previous first device) in the claims of the disclosure, while the personal computer 311 corresponds to the second device (previous second device) in the claims. In the pair of the personal computer 311 and the mouse 313, the personal computer 311 corresponds to the first device (current first device) in the claims, while the mouse 313 corresponds to the second device (current second device) in the claims. Sequentially sliding the pairing of two devices to change a certain device from the previous second device to the current first device should be regarded in the scope of the claims of the disclosure.
The connection interface in the pair of the wireless LAN access point 304 and the personal computer 311 is the network interface (wireless LAN), whilst the connection interface in the pair of the personal computer 311 and the mouse 313 is the bus interface (USB). According to this embodiment, irrespective of whether the connection interface between the first device and the second device is the network interface or the bus interface, the first device obtains the configuration information of the second device and notifies the management PC 303 of the obtained configuration information.
Referring back to
The system configuration map m1 includes a connection mode display area AR1 and an operating condition display area AR2. Symbols representing the respective devices included in the system 500, the device types and the device names of the respective devices, and the connection interface types between the respective devices are displayed in the connection mode display area AR1. The operating conditions of the respective devices included in the system 500 are displayed in the operating condition display area AR2.
As shown in
The symbols of the respective devices are disposed in the connection mode display area AR1 to clarify the hierarchical structure of the respective devices. Specifically, the symbol of the router 100 is located at the uppermost left position. The symbol of each device directly connected with the router 100 by wireless connection or by wired connection is located at offset Ax1 right in the x direction (horizontal direction) from the symbol of the router 100. The symbol of each device not directly connected with the router 100 is, on the other hand, located at offset Ax2 right in the x direction (horizontal direction) from the symbol of the router 100, wherein the offset Ax2 is greater than the offset Ax1. The respective symbols are accordingly displayed, such that the router 100 is located at the highest hierarchical level, the devices directly connected with the router 100 are located at the second hierarchical level, and the devices not directly connected with the router 100 are located at the third hierarchical level, as shown in
The symbols of the respective devices are grouped by the connection interface type with the router 100. More specifically, the symbols of the devices having the wireless LAN as the connection interface type are grouped first to be arranged at the closest position to the symbol of the router 100 in the y direction. Similarly, the symbols of the devices having the WHDI as the connection interface type, the symbols of the devices having the wired LAN as the connection interface type, and the symbols of the devices having the USB as the connection interface type are sequentially grouped to be arranged at the second closest position, at the third closest position, and at the fourth closest position, to the symbol of the router 100. Such grouping display of the symbols of the devices by the connection interface type with the router 100 enables the user to readily understand how many devices are connected for each type of the connection interface. Additionally, the symbols of the devices having the wireless connection interface with the router 100 are located at the position closer to the symbol of the router 100 in the y direction than the symbols of the devices having the wired connection interface with the router 100, because of the following reason. With respect to the devices having the wired connection interface with the router 100, it is relatively easy to identify which device is connected with the router 100 by tracking the cables used for connection. With respect to the devices having the wireless connection interface with the router 100, on the other hand, it is not easy to identify whether each device is connected with or not connected with the router 100. The management PC 303 accordingly locates the symbols of the devices having the wireless connection interface at the position closer to the symbol of the router 100 in the y direction, in order to clearly identify whether each device is connected with or not connected with the router 100.
The respective symbols are connected by different line types corresponding to the different connection interface types. This allows clear differentiation among the connection interface types for the respective devices. The connection lines between the symbols are also displayed corresponding to the actual connections between the devices. More specifically, for example, the symbol of the router 100 and the symbol of the wireless LAN access point 304 are directly connected by a broken line. The symbols of the two personal computers 311 and 312 are, however, not directly connected with the symbol of the router 100 but are directly connected with the wireless LAN access point 304 by broken lines. Displaying the connection lines between the symbols corresponding to the actual connections between the devices enables the user to readily understand the actual connection configuration.
As shown in
As described above, arraying the symbols of the respective devices in the vertical direction enables the space for displaying the operating condition of each device to be provided adjacent to the symbol of the device in the horizontal direction. This enables the user to readily understand the connection configuration of the respective devices, together with the operating conditions of the respective devices. The system configuration map m1 shown in
The map generation process to generate the system configuration map m1 shown in
The map generator 11b first locates the symbol of the router 100 at the root position (step S905). The symbol of the router 100 is located at the upper left corner of the window W1 as shown in
The map generator 11b tentatively locates all the devices, from which the configuration information has been obtained, immediately below the symbol of the router 100 on the assumption of the wired connection (LAN connection) (step S910). The map generator 11b then refers to the obtained configuration information (lower-level device list) and moves the symbol of each device identified as a lower-level device to the position immediately below the symbol of its corresponding upper-level device (step S915).
Referring back to
Referring back to
In the system 500 described above, the management PC 303 indirectly obtains the configuration information of a device of interest (for example, printer 342) that is not directly connected with the router 100 via a device (for example, device server 331) directly connected with both the router 100 and the device of interest. This facilitates management of a plurality of devices connected by not only the connection interfaces for direct connection with the router 100 but various other connection interfaces. The centralized management of the respective devices by the management PC 303 does not require a management device (management software) provided for each connection interface type. This saves the cost for constructing the system 500 and does not require the user to learn how to use a plurality of management devices (management software), thus ensuring easy introduction into the home or small business.
In response to the query for configuration information from the management PC 303, the router 100 creates a lower-level device list including the IP address of each lower-level device and information showing whether each lower-level device has any further lower-level device and sends the created lower-level device list in addition to the own configuration information to the management PC 303. The management PC 303 refers to this lower-level device list to identify each lower-level device and queries each lower-level device for the configuration information of its further lower-level device.
In response to the query for configuration information from the management PC 303, the device that has any lower-level device and is not directly connected with the router 100 obtains the configuration information of the lower-level device, creates a lower-level device list and sends the own configuration information and the created lower-level device list to the management PC 303 (steps S310 to S320). Even when the bus interface is used for the connection interface between the device with any lower-level device and its lower-level device and thereby the management PC 303 can not directly obtain the configuration information of the lower-level device, this enables the configuration information of the lower-level device to be obtained via the device having the lower-level device.
The management PC 303 queries only the router 100 and each of the devices that is not directly connected with the router 100 and has any lower-level device for configuration information. This advantageously relieves the processing load of the management PC 303, compared with querying all the devices included in the system 500 for configuration information. Especially the router 100 has a number of connection interfaces, so that it is highly probable that the router 100 has already obtained the configuration information of each device connected via some connection interface (for example, USB) by the initialization sequence on the connection to the router 100. Querying the router 100 for the configuration information advantageously shortens the time required for obtaining the configuration information.
The symbols of the respective devices are arranged in the hierarchical manner in the system configuration map m1, so that the user can readily understand the connections of the respective devices. The grouped display of the symbols of the respective devices by the connection interface type with the router 100 enables the user to easily understand how many devices are connected for each connection interface. The symbol of a device having the wireless connection interface with the router 100, which does not allow easy detection of the connection or non-connection of the device with the router 100, is arranged at the position closer to the symbol of the router 100 than the symbol of a device having the wired connection interface with the router 100, so as to clearly differentiate between the connection and non-connection of the device with the router 100. Different line types corresponding to different connection interface types are used for connecting the symbols, so as to clearly differentiate among the connection interface types for the respective devices. Displaying the connection lines between the symbols corresponding to the actual connections between the devices enables the user to readily understand the actual connection configuration.
Arraying the symbols of the respective devices in the vertical direction enables the space for displaying the operating condition of each device to be provided adjacent to the symbol of the device in the horizontal direction. Additionally, displaying the information on the operating condition of each device (symbol or character string) at the position corresponding to the symbol of the device enables the user to understand the operating condition of the device at first sight.
B. Second EmbodimentThe device search module 11d of the management PC 303a sends an echo request to all the devices included in the system 500 (step S505). The echo request requires only a simple response and checks whether each device is reachable online, based on the response or no response to the echo request. This embodiment uses ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) ping (packet internet grouper) as the response request. In this application, one available method may set the IP addresses of the respective devices in the management PC 303a. The method of sending ping is, however, not restricted to the method of setting the IP addresses of the respective devices in the management PC 303a and sending ping to the IP addresses as the destinations but may be the method of setting IP addresses and subnet masks belonging to a network used in the system 500 and sending ping to all possible IP addresses that may be allocated to this network. Another available method may query the router 100 for a network address and send ping to all possible IP addresses that may be allocated to the network.
When receiving the echo request, the wired LAN control circuit 170 of the router 100 sends a response to the management PC 303a (step S605). Similarly, when receiving the echo request, the device with any lower-level device and the device without any lower-level device sends a response to the management PC 303a (step S705 or step S805). When ping is used as the echo request of step S505, only the devices that are capable of interpreting ICMP among the devices included in the system 500 send the response at step S705 or at step S805.
The configuration information acquirer 11a of the management PC 303a queries each of the devices, which have sent a response to the echo request of step S505, for configuration information (step S510).
After sending the response to the management PC 303a (after step S605), the router 100 performs the processing of steps S205, S210, S215 and S220 described above in the first embodiment. After sending the response to the management PC 303a (after step S705), the device with any lower-level device performs the processing of steps S310, S315 and S320 described above. After sending the response to the management PC 303a (after step S805), the device without any lower-level device performs the processing of step S405 described above.
The management PC 303a receives the configuration information or the lower-level device list from each of the devices and performs the processing of steps S120 and S125 described above to display the system configuration map on the display 21.
In the system of the second embodiment described above, the management PC 303a has the similar advantageous effects to those of the management PC 303 of the first embodiment. Additionally, the direct query for configuration information from the management PC 303a to each device enables the configuration information to be obtained from the respective devices except the router 100 even in the case of a failure in the router 100.
C. Third EmbodimentThe system of the third embodiment, on the other hand, changes the display of the symbol of each device according to a change in its operating condition, while displaying the operating condition of the device in the operating condition display area AR2. More specifically, for example, when the device server 331 is powered off, the system of the third embodiment grays out the symbol of the device server 331, while displaying a character string “power off” in the operating condition display area AR2 of a system configuration map m2 as shown in
When the device is powered on again, it is preferable to return the grayed-out symbol of the device to its original display.
In the system of the third embodiment described above, the management PC has the similar advantageous effects to those of the management PC 303 of the first embodiment. The additional change in display of the symbol of each device according to a change in its operating condition further facilitates the user's understanding of the operating conditions of the respective devices.
D. Fourth EmbodimentMore specifically, in a system configuration map m3 of the fourth embodiment shown in
In the system of the fourth embodiment described above, the management PC has the similar advantageous effects to those of the management PC 303 of the first embodiment.
E. Fifth EmbodimentE1. System Configuration Map
More specifically, as shown in
The operation buttons are displayed at the positions corresponding to the symbols of the respective devices (positions aligned in the horizontal direction with the symbols of the respective devices) in the operation button display area AR3. For example, with respect to the router 100, a separate operation button B1 and an operation menu display button Ba are displayed at the position aligned in the horizontal direction with the symbol of the router 100. Similarly, a separate operation button B2 and an operation menu display button Ba are aligned in the horizontal direction with the symbol of the wireless LAN access point 304; a separate operation button B3 and an operation menu display button Ba are aligned in the horizontal direction with the symbol of the hard disk recorder 301; a separate operation button B4 and an operation menu display button Ba are aligned in the horizontal direction with the symbol of the TV receiver 321; a separate operation button B5 and an operation menu display button Ba are aligned in the horizontal direction with the symbol of the device server 331; a separate operation button B6 and an operation menu display button Ba are aligned in the horizontal direction with the symbol of the TV tuner 341; and a separate operation button B7 and an operation menu display button Ba are aligned in the horizontal direction with the symbol of the NAS 332. There is no separate operation button but only an operation menu display button Ba at the position corresponding to the symbol of the personal computer 311. Similarly, there are no separate operation buttons but only operation menu display buttons Ba at the positions corresponding to the symbols of the personal computer 312, the game machine 302, a management PC 303b (described later), the printer 342 and the TV tuner 333.
Each of these separate operation buttons B1 to B7 is a button used to activate one function among the available functions of each device that may be activated from the management PC 303b. The method of determining the function (operation) set as the separate operation button will be described later. The operation menu display button Ba is a button used to display a list of the available functions of each device that may be activated from the management PC 303b.
As shown in the upper drawing of
As shown in the lower drawing of
Although not specifically illustrated in
Displaying the separate operation buttons B1 to B7 and the operation menu display buttons Ba aligned with the symbols of the corresponding devices advantageously improves the user's convenience of operations for the respective devices. The user is not required to select a menu window for each operation of interest, for example, “Set”, “Open Shared” or “Connect” to be displayed on the management PC 303b but is only required to click the button for activating the operation (function) of interest. The system configuration map m4 including the display of these operation buttons is generated according to a map generation process (described later) performed by the management PC 303b structured as described below.
E2. Structure of Management PC
E3. Map Generation Process
The map generator 11b performs a communication availability test with respect to the operation menu option corresponding to the separate button-displayed operation among the available operation menu options specified at step S5 (step S10) and checks for the availability of communication (step S15). As shown in
According to this embodiment, each of the operation menu options “Open Settings Window” and “Open Shared” is implemented through data transmission utilizing a preset port conforming to TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) or UDP (User Datagram Protocol). More specifically, a port with port number “80”, which is a well-known port for HTTP, is used for the operation menu option “Open Settings Window”. A port with either port number “139” or port number “445”, which is a well-known port for file sharing service, is used for the operation menu option “Open Shared”. According to this embodiment, the map generator 11b performs port scanning at the specified port number as the communication availability test with respect to the operation menu option “Open Settings Window” or “Open Shared”. For example, since the separate button-displayed operation represents the operation menu option “Open Settings Window” with respect to the router 100, the map generator 11b performs port scanning at the port of the router 100 with the port number “80”. The port scanning method may be, for example, TCP open process utilizing SYN packet or TCP close process utilizing FIN packet.
According to this embodiment, the communication availability test for the operation menu option “Connect/Disconnect” checks whether the status is obtained or not obtained from the device server 331 connected with the device correlated to the separate operation button B6 corresponding to the operation menu option “Connect/Disconnect” (e.g., TV tuner 341). The status obtained is determined to be communication available, while the status not-obtained is determined to be communication unavailable.
When the check result represents communication available (step S15: YES), the map generator 11b displays the corresponding separate operation button in the operation button display area AR3 (step S20). The map generator 11b also displays the corresponding operation menu display button Ba in the operation button display area AR3 (step S25). For example, when port scanning at the port number “80” for the router 100 gives the result of communication available, the separate operation button B1 is displayed in the operation button display area AR3 at the position aligned with the symbol of the router 100 as shown in
When the check result represents communication unavailable (step S15: NO), on the other hand, the map generator 11b omits the processing of step S20 and performs the processing of step S25. The operation menu display button Ba is accordingly displayed at the position corresponding to the symbol of each device in the operation button display area AR3 as shown in
The management PC 303b of the fifth embodiment described above has the similar advantageous effects to those of the management PC 303 of the first embodiment. Additionally, displaying the separate operation button (e.g., B1) correlated to the symbol of each device in the system configuration map m4 enables activation of the preset available operation menu option (function) for the device. Displaying the operation menu display button Ba correlated to the symbol of each device enables the list of available operation menu options for the device to be displayed by the user's simple operation. The user can thus select and activate a desired operation menu option for each device by the simple operation.
The separate operation button is displayed when the result of port scanning or the result of status acquisition represents communication available; in other words, the separate operation button is not displayed when the corresponding operation menu option is unavailable. For example, when an operation menu option for a device is temporarily unavailable due to failure in the connection between the management PC 303 and the device (e.g., network failure), the separate operation button corresponding to the operation menu option is not displayed. The user can readily be informed of the communication availability with each device at the preset port and obtain the information on failure isolation of each device by simply checking the display or non-display of the separate operation button of the device in the system configuration map m4.
With respect to the operation menu options “Open Settings Window” and “Open Shared”, the communication availability test is performed by port scanning at the well-known port conforming to TCP or UDP, so that this does not require any separate protocol for the communication availability test and reduces the manufacturing cost of the management PC 303b.
The packet for port scanning or the packet for status acquisition according to the fifth embodiment corresponds to the preset packet in the claims. The function of transmitting data at the port number “80”, “139” or “445” and the function of obtaining the status correspond to the remote activation function in the claims; the map generator 11b corresponds to the map display controller, the function specifier and the function tester in the claims; the port with the port number “80”, “139” or “445” corresponds to the preset port in the claims; and the operation menu display button Ba corresponds to the list display button in the claims.
F. Sixth EmbodimentIn the operation button display process of the sixth embodiment shown in
The map generator 11b displays the separate operation button corresponding to the operation menu option with the highest priority among the operation menu options determined as communication available (i.e., available operation menu options) in the operation button display area AR3 (step S60). Since the priority order is set for the respective operation menu options in the available operation menu list 14b as described above, the map generator 11b refers to the available operation menu list 14b and specifies the operation menu option with the highest priority among the communication-available operation menu options. For example, when port scanning at all the port numbers “80”, “139” and “445” for the router 100 gives the result of communication available, the map generator 11b refers to the available operation menu list 14b shown in
The map generator 11b then displays the operation menu display button Ba for each device in the operation button display area AR3 (step S65). This is identical with the processing of step S25 in the operation button display process of the fifth embodiment shown in
The management PC of the sixth embodiment described above has the similar advantageous effects to those of the management PC 303b of the fifth embodiment. Additionally, setting the priority order of the respective operation menu options (available functions) and displaying the separate operation button corresponding to the operation menu option with the highest priority among the operation menu options determined to be communication available (i.e., available operation menu options) enables a separate operation button corresponding to the operation menu option with the higher priority (e.g., second priority) to be displayed in the system configuration map m4 even when the operation menu option with the highest priority order in the available operation menu list 14b is determined to be unavailable. This reduces the user's work load for activating the operation corresponding to the displayed separate operation button. The separate operation button is displayed only for the operation menu option with the higher priority, so that the user can more readily select the separate operation button for the desired function or operation compared with the configuration of displaying the separate operation button even for the operation menu option with the low priority.
G. ModificationsThe disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments, but a multiplicity of variants and modifications may be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Some examples of possible modifications are described below.
G1. Modification 1
The method of setting the IP addresses of the respective devices in advance in the management PC 303a or the method of determining all the possible IP addresses that may be allocated to a network in the system 500 as the destination IP addresses is adopted to determine the IP addresses of the destinations of the echo request, such as ping according to the second embodiment, but the disclosure is not limited to such methods. The router 100 also functions as a DHCP server and may thus query the router 100 for IP addresses allocated to the respective devices as DHCP clients and determine the IP addresses obtained as the reply to the query as the destination IP addresses of the echo request. In an application including a separate DHCP server from the router 100, the method may query the DHCP server, instead of the router 100, for the allocated IP addresses.
G2. Modification 2
According to the first embodiment, the management PC 303 (configuration information acquirer 11a) queries each lower-level device of the router having any lower-level device for configuration information. According to the second embodiment, the management PC 303a queries all the devices responding to the echo request for configuration information. The disclosure is, however, not limited to these methodologies. According to another methodology, the management PC may query the router 100 for configuration information, and the router 100 may obtain configuration information of all the devices and collectively notify the management PC of the obtained configuration information. More specifically, the router 100 may perform the processing of steps S110 and S115 described in the first embodiment. Similarly, the router 100 may perform the processing of steps S505 and S510 described in the second embodiment.
G3. Modification 3
The management PC 303 (configuration information acquirer 11a) checks whether each device has any lower-level device (step S110), based on the settings in the lower-level device presence/absence field of the lower-level device list according to the first embodiment, but the disclosure is not limited to this methodology. According to another methodology, device types that are generally not expected to have any lower-level device may be set in advance in the management PC 303, and the above checking may be based on the comparison between the preset device types and the settings in the device type field of the lower-level device list. The device types that are not expected to have any lower-level device may include, for example, “hard disk recorder”, “TV receiver” and “printer”. This methodology does not require acquisition of the information on the presence/absence of any lower-level device from the respective devices, thus reliving the processing load and reducing the data size of the lower-level device list.
G4. Modification 4
In the embodiments described above, part of the devices connected with the router 100 may be omitted. A plurality of devices are connected to the router 100 in the above embodiment, but only one of these device may be connected to the router 100. Any lower-level device of the devices other than the router 100 (two personal computers 311 and 312, TV tuner 341 and printer 342 shown in
The connection interfaces between the respective devices adopted in the above embodiment include the wired LAN interface (LAN interface conforming to the IEEE802.3 standard), the wireless LAN interface (LAN interface conforming to the IEEE802.11b/g standard), the WHDI and the USB2.0, but the disclosure is not limited to these interfaces. Any arbitrary interfaces may be adopted for the network interfaces; for example, an interface conforming to the IEEE802.3z or IEEE802.3ab standard as the wired LAN interface and an interface conforming to the IEEE802.11a or IEEE802.11n standard as the wireless LAN interface. Any arbitrary interfaces may also be adopted for the bus interfaces; for example, an interface conforming to the USB 1.1 or USB3.0 protocol as the USB interface, a serial transfer interface, such as an interface conforming to the IEEE1394 or PCI Express (PCIe) standard, a video/sound input/output interface, such as an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) or WirelessHD (WiHD) interface, and a near field communication interface, such as a Zigbee, Bluetooth or IrDA interface. In an application adopting a device of collecting pulse data sent by Zigbee from a small pulse monitor in the system 500, the pulse data may be displayed as information on the operating condition of the pulse monitor in the system configuration map.
G5. Modification 5
The information showing the operating conditions of the respective devices displayed in the system configuration map in the above embodiments includes, for example, the use capacity of the hard disk, the received signal strength and the name of the user currently using the device as shown in
G6. Modification 6
The display format of the system configuration map is not limited to those shown in the above embodiments, but the disclosure may adopt any other suitable display format.
The symbols of the devices having the wireless connection interface with the router 100 are located at the position closer to the symbol of the router 100 in the y direction than the symbols of the devices having the wired connection interface with the router 100 in the system configuration map according to the above embodiments, but the disclosure is not limited to this arrangement. For example, the symbols of the devices having the wired connection interface with the router 100 may be located at the position closer to the symbol of the router 100 in the y direction than the symbols of the devices having the wireless connection interface with the router 100. In another example, the symbols of the devices with any lower-level device may be located at the position closer to the symbol of the router 100 in the y direction than the symbols of the devices without any lower-level device. This arrangement clearly differentiates the devices with any lower-level device.
The symbol of a device is grayed out to indicate the power-off state of the device according to the third embodiment, but another suitable display format may be adopted to indicate a change in operating condition of the device. For example, the shape of the symbol may be changed according to a change in operating condition (for example, rectangle in the normal working state and triangle in the power-off state), or the symbol may be shaded or non-shaded with a change in operating condition (for example, shaded in the power-on state and non-shaded in the power-off state). In place of or in addition to the symbol of each device, the display format of the connection line between the symbols of the devices may be changed according to a change in operating condition. Specifically, for example, the connection line for a device in the power-off state may be displayed with the lower saturation than that of the connection line for the same device in the power-on state. In another example, the lighted (normal display format) connection line in the power-on state may be flashed in the power-off state.
The information showing the operating condition of each device is displayed together with the symbol of the device in the system configuration map according to the above embodiments, but the display of the information showing the operating condition may be omitted. The device type and the device name of each device are shown inside the symbol of each device in the system configuration map according to the above embodiments, but may alternatively be shown outside the symbol of each device. In the latter case, displaying the device type and the device name of each device in correlation to the symbol of the device allows identification of the device in the system configuration map. Instead of both the device type and the device name of each device, only one of the device type and the device name may be displayed for identification of the device.
G7. Modification 7
The system configuration map is displayed on the display 21 of the management PC 303 or 303a according to the above embodiments, but the disclosure is not limited to this display 21. For example, the system configuration map may be displayed on a display of either of the two personal computers 311 and 312. In another example, the system configuration map may be displayed on the TV receiver 321. In an application of the router 100 having a display device, such as a liquid crystal display, the system configuration map may be displayed on the display device. Displaying the system configuration map on the TV receiver 321 allows enlarged display of the system configuration map. Displaying the system configuration map on the display device of the router enables the connection configuration of the respective deices to be readily checked at work in the router 100 (for example, insertion or removal of a cable).
The functional blocks of gathering the configuration information and generating and displaying the system configuration map are implemented by the management PC 303 or 303a according to the above embodiments, but the disclosure is not limited to this implementation. For example, the management PC 303 may be omitted, and the router 100 may serve as the functional blocks to gather the configuration information and generate and display the system configuration map. In this application, the router 100 may be structured to have the functional blocks of the management PC 303 or the management PC 303a. In an application of the system including a different router separate from the router 100, this different router may be structured to have the functional blocks of the management PC 303 or 303a.
E8. Modification 8
All the devices directly connected with the router 100 by wireless connection or by wired connection have the configuration information acquisition-relevant module CP according to the above embodiments, but some of such devices may be structured without the configuration information acquisition-relevant module CP. In the latter case, the device without the configuration information acquisition-relevant module CP does not perform the processing of either step S305 or step S405, so that the router 100 does not add this device to its lower-level device list. In the system of the second embodiment, however, the device without the configuration information acquisition-relevant module CP adopting TCP/IP as the communication protocol can send a response to the echo request (ping), so that the management PC 303a can recognize the presence of the device. In this case, the symbol of the device with its IP address instead of the device name may be displayed immediately below the symbol of the router 100 in the system configuration map. The user may be allowed to add the device type and the device name of the device obtained elsewhere to the displayed symbol of the device. The user may also be allowed to move the symbol of the device to any adequate location in the system configuration map. These variations enable the management PC 303 or the management PC 303a to readily manage even the devices without the configuration information acquisition-relevant module CP.
Each device creates and sends its lower-level device list as the reply to the query from the router 100 or from the management PC 303 or 303a according to the above embodiments, but the disclosure is not limited to this methodology. For example, the wireless LAN access point may send its own wireless LAN association list (enumeration of MAC addresses of the connected devices), instead of the lower-level device list, to the router 100 or to the management PC 303 or 303a. In this application, the router 100 or the management PC 303 or 303a can obtain at least part of the configuration information of each device, based on the MAC address of the device included in the obtained association list. More specifically, the router 100 or the management PC 303 or 303a may adopt RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol) to obtain the IP address of each device, based on the MAC address of the device included in the obtained association list.
According to another modification, each device adopting the network interface for the connection interface to its lower-level device may send address information (for example, MAC address, IP address or subnet mask) of its lower-level device, instead of the lower-level device list, to the router 100 or to the management PC 303 or 303a, while each device adopting the bus interface for the connection interface to its lower-level device may send the lower-level devise list. The management device informed of the address information can directly obtain the configuration information via the network from the lower-level device connected by the network interface. The management device cannot, however, directly obtain the configuration information via the network from the lower-level device connected by the bus interface. Receiving the lower-level device list output from the device adopting the bus interface enables the management device to obtain at least the information recorded in the lower-level device list with respect to the lower-level device.
G9. Modification 9
The configuration information gathering process is performed at regular intervals after the start-up of the management PC 303 or 303a according to the above embodiments, but the disclosure is not limited to this methodology. For example, the configuration information gathering process may be performed automatically only at the start-up of the management PC 303 or 303a and may be performed subsequently in response to the user's execution instruction given to the management PC 303 or 303a. According to another modification, the configuration information gathering process may be triggered by a change of the configuration information in any of the devices.
G10. Modification 10
The echo request sent by the device search module 11d is ping according to the second embodiment, but the disclosure is not limited to this methodology. For example, specific data set in advance between the configuration information acquisition-relevant modules CP may be exchanged for the echo request and its response.
G11. Modification 11
According to the second embodiment, when the router 100 fails to respond to the echo request, for example, due to a failure or a trouble, the system configuration map cannot be generated because of the failed first operation step (step S905) of the map generation process shown in
The symbol of the router 100 is located at the root position in the system configuration map according to the above embodiments, but the disclosure is not limited to this symbol. For example, the symbol of a device set as a default gateway in the management PC 303 or 303a may be located at the root position. When no default gateway is set in the management PC 303 or 303a, a dummy symbol may tentatively be located at the root position.
G12. Modification 12
The devices connected by a wired LAN or by a wireless LAN are connected directly according to the above embodiments, but the disclosure is not limited to this connection configuration. A device relaying layer 2 frames may intervene between the devices, and the devices may be connected indirectly via this device.
The system configuration map displayed on the management PC 303 according to the connection modification of
In the system configuration shown in
More specifically, the differences from the system configuration map m1 include the presence of a symbol representing the wireless LAN access point 625 between the symbols of the router 100 and the wireless LAN access point 304, the connections between these symbols by connection lines corresponding to the wireless LAN interface, the presence of a symbol representing the mouse 313 under the symbol of the personal computer 311 and the connection between these symbols by a connection line corresponding to the USB interface.
As described above, since the personal computer 311 is not notified of the configuration information of the USB hub 810 according to the connection configuration shown in
G13. Modification 13
The user presets the priority order of the operation menu options for each device according to the sixth embodiment, but the disclosure is not limited to this configuration. For example, the priority order may be set, based on the history of actual runs of operations or functions for each device. More specifically, the management PC may record the run history of each operation menu option for each device in the EEPROM 14. At step S60 in the operation button display process, the map generator 11b may specify the most frequently-run operation menu option as the operation menu with the highest priority, based on the run history of the operation menu options recorded in the EEPROM 14. The EEPROM 14 according to this embodiment corresponds to the history recorder in the claims. According to another embodiment, the operation menu option of the latest run (operation menu option with the shortest time elapsed since the last run) may be specified as the operation menu option with the highest priority.
G14. Modification 14
Only one separate operation button is displayed in correlation to the symbol of each device according to the fifth and sixth embodiments, but a plurality of separate operation buttons may be displayed. According to another embodiment, a plurality of operation menu options may be set as separate button-displayed operations, and the management PC may perform the communication availability test for the plurality of operation menu options and display a plurality of separate operation buttons in the operation button display area AR3 when the result of the communication availability test represents communication available for all these operation menu options. According to another embodiment, the management PC may display a plurality of separate operation buttons corresponding to a plurality of operation menu options with the higher priorities (for example, operation menu options with the highest priority and the second highest priority) among all the operation menu options determined to be communication available as the result of the communication availability test.
G15. Modification 15
The status acquisition and the port scanning with the SYN packet or the FIN packet are adopted for the communication availability test in the operation button display process according to the fifth and sixth embodiments, but the disclosure is not limited to this method. According to another embodiment, a special start packet and a response packet may be preset as packets for communication availability test, and the communication availability test may be performed by transmission of these packets.
G16. Modification 16
The communication availability test is performed to specify the operation menu option to be displayed as the separate operation button according to the fifth and sixth embodiments, but the operation menu option to be displayed as the separate operation button may be specified without the communication availability test. According to another embodiment, a table designed to correlate the device type to the operation menu option to be displayed as the separate operation button may be preset in the management PC, and the management PC may refer to this table and specify the operation menu option to be displayed as the separate operation button, based on the information regarding the device type of each device obtained in the configuration information gathering process.
G17. Modification 17
The separate operation buttons B1 to B7 and the operation menu display buttons Ba are displayed separately from the symbols of the respective devices in the system configuration map m4 according to the fifth and sixth embodiments, but the disclosure is not limited to this configuration. According to another embodiment, the symbols of the respective devices may be designed in a clickable form, and the functions of the separate operation buttons B1 to B7 or the function of the operation menu display buttons Ba may be assigned to these symbols. This embodiment can omit the buttons (separate operation buttons or operation menu display buttons) corresponding to the functions assigned to the symbols of the respective devices. Difference functions from those of the separate operation buttons B1 to B7 and those of the operation menu display buttons Ba may be assigned to the symbols of the respective devices designed in a clickable form. For example, the function of activating only one operation (function) among the functions that may be activated from the management PC 303b (for example, the functions or operation menu options enumerated in the menu window W11 shown in the lower drawing of
G18. Modification 18
In the embodiments described above, part of the software configuration may be replaced by the hardware configuration. On the contrary, part of the hardware configuration may be replaced by the software configuration.
H. Other AspectsAccording to an aspect of an apparatus, the apparatus configured to manage a system, wherein the system includes a gateway device, a first device connected with the gateway device and a second device connected with the first device, wherein the second device has a greater number of devices intervening before the gateway device than the first device. The apparatus comprises: a configuration information acquirer configured to acquire configuration information from the gateway device, the first device and the second device, wherein the configuration information includes information regarding a device type, information regarding a type of a connection interface and connected-device identification information, wherein the connected-device identification information is used to identify a device connected with the each device; a function specifier configured to specify a remote activation function activatable by the apparatus for each of the gateway device and the first device; a display unit; and a map display controller configured to display a connection configuration map including a symbol of the gateway device, a symbol of the first device and a symbol of the second device on the display unit, based on the acquired configuration information and the acquired connected-device identification information, wherein the connection configuration map represents that the symbols of the gateway device, the first device and the second device are connected corresponding to actual connections among the gateway device, the first device and the second device, the symbol of the first device is located at a position having a shorter distance in a preset first direction from the symbol of the gateway device than the symbol of the second device, connection interfaces of the gateway device, the first device and the second device are shown in an identifiable manner, and a button used to activate the specified remote activation function is correlated to the symbol of the device having the remote activation function. The apparatus according to this aspect displays the button used to activate the remote activation function specified for each of the gateway device and the first device, in correlation to the symbol of each of the gateway device and the first device, so that the user can activate the remote activation function for at least each of the gateway device and the first device by simply clicking the corresponding button. The apparatus of this embodiment facilitates the user's operation from the apparatus for each of the gateway device and the first device.
In the apparatus of the above aspect, the connection configuration map represents that the symbol of the first device is located at a position closer to the symbol of the gateway device than the symbol of the second device. The apparatus of this aspect enables the connections among the respective devices to be displayed in a sensuously understandable mode, thus improving the easiness of the management of a plurality of devices connected by various interfaces.
In the apparatus of the above aspect, the function specifier specifies a remote activation function for the second device adopting a network interface for the connection interface with the first device, in addition to the gateway device and the first device. The apparatus of this aspect displays the button used to activate the remote activation function specified for the second device, in correlation to the symbol of the second device, so as to facilitate the user's operation from the apparatus for the second device.
The apparatus of the above aspect further comprises a function tester configured to send a preset packet to each of the gateway device, the first device and the second device and to receive a response packet as a reply to the preset packet from each of the gateway device, the first device and the second device, wherein the function specifier specifies the remote activation function, based on each received response packet. The apparatus of this aspect enables the function specifier to specify an actually available remote activation function. For example, when the remote activation function is temporarily unavailable due to a failure between the apparatus and each of the devices (for example, network failure), the button used to activate this remote activation function is not displayed in the connection configuration map. This advantageously prevents display of the button used to activate the actually unavailable remote activation function.
In the apparatus of the above aspect, the remote activation function serves to send and receive data at a preset port conforming to TCP or UDP, and the preset packet and the response packet are sent and received via the preset port. The apparatus of this aspect allows display of the button used to activate the remote activation function that sends and receives data at the preset port. The remote activation function can be specified by standard port scanning, so that there is no need to implement a dedicated function for specifying the remote activation function on the apparatus. This advantageously reduces the manufacturing cost of the apparatus.
In the apparatus of the above aspect, when a plurality of remote activation functions are specified for at least one of the gateway device, the first device and the second device, the connection configuration map represents a button used to activate only a remote activation function with a preset higher priority among the plurality of specified remote activation functions. The apparatus of this aspect displays the button used to activate only the remote activation function with the higher priority and thereby enables the user to readily select a button with the higher necessity, compared with the configuration of displaying a button for even the remote activation function with the low priority.
The apparatus of the above aspect further comprises a history recorder configured to record a run history of each remote activation function performed by the apparatus for each of at least the gateway device and the first device, wherein when a plurality of remote activation functions are specified for at least one of the gateway device, the first device and the second device, the connection configuration map represents a button used to activate only a frequently-run remote activation function among the plurality of specified remote activation functions, based on the run history of the remote activation function recorded by the history recorder. The apparatus of this aspect displays the button used to activate the frequently-run remote activation function with the higher use possibility, so as to facilitate the user's operation for activating this remote activation function.
In the apparatus of the above aspect, the connection configuration map represents a list display button used to display a list of the plurality of specified remote activation functions, in correlation to the symbol of the device having the specified remote activation functions. The apparatus of this aspect enables the user to easily check the available remote activation function with respect to the device of the correlated symbol.
In the apparatus of the above aspect, the remote activation function includes at least one of a function of displaying a settings window for each device on the display unit and a function of displaying a list of at least one electronic file stored in a memory unit of at least one of the gateway device, the first device and the second device, on the display unit. The apparatus of this aspect enables the user to easily specify the settings for each device and easily check the list of electronic files stored in the memory unit of each device.
In the apparatus of the above aspect, the configuration information acquirer acquires the configuration information and the connected-device identification information with respect to the second device adopting a bus interface for the connection interface with the first device, from the first device that has obtained the configuration information and the connected-device identification information from the second device. When the bus interface is adopted for the connection interface between the first device and the second device and direct data transmission between the apparatus and the second device is unavailable, the apparatus of this aspect enables the configuration information and the connected-device identification information of the second device to be displayed in the connection configuration map. The user can thus manage the second device from the apparatus.
According to an aspect of method of managing system, the aspect is directed to a method of managing a system by using a apparatus having a display unit, wherein the system comprises a gateway device, a first device connected with the gateway device and a second device connected with the first device, wherein the second device has a greater number of devices intervening before the gateway device than the first device. The method comprises (a) in the apparatus, acquiring configuration information from the gateway device, the first device and the second device, wherein the configuration information includes information regarding a device type, information regarding a type of a connection interface and connected-device identification information, wherein the connected-device identification information is used to identify a device connected with the each device; (b) in the apparatus, specifying a remote activation function activatable by the management device for each of the gateway device and the first device; and (c) in the apparatus, displaying a connection configuration map including a symbol of the gateway device, a symbol of the first device and a symbol of the second device on the display unit, based on the acquired configuration information and the acquired connected-device identification information, wherein the connection configuration map represents that the symbols of the gateway device, the first device and the second device are connected corresponding to actual connections among the gateway device, the first device and the second device, the symbol of the first device is located at a position having a shorter distance in a preset first direction from the symbol of the gateway device than the symbol of the second device, connection interfaces of the gateway device, the first device and the second device are shown in an identifiable manner, and a button used to activate the specified remote activation function is correlated to the symbol of the device having the remote activation function. The method according to this embodiment displays the button used to activate the remote activation function specified for each of the gateway device and the first device, in correlation to the symbol of each of the gateway device and the first device, so that the user can activate the remote activation function for at least each of the gateway device and the first device by simply clicking the corresponding button. The method of this embodiment facilitates the user's operation from the apparatus for each of the gateway device and the first device.
According to an aspect of a computer program product, the computer program product comprises a non-transitory computer readable storage medium; and a computer program stored in the storage medium, wherein the computer program is executed by an apparatus having a display unit to manage a system, wherein the system comprises a gateway device, a first device connected with the gateway device and a second device connected with the first device, wherein the second device has a greater number of devices intervening before the gateway device than the first device, wherein the computer program comprises: (a) a program code for acquiring configuration information from the gateway device, the first device and the second device, wherein the configuration information includes information regarding a device type, information regarding a type of a connection interface and connected-device identification information, wherein the connected-device identification information is used to identify a device connected with the each device; (b) a program code for specifying a remote activation function activatable by the management device for each of the gateway device and the first device; and (c) a program code for displaying a connection configuration map including a symbol of the gateway device, a symbol of the first device and a symbol of the second device on the display unit, based on the acquired configuration information and the acquired connected-device identification information, wherein the connection configuration map represents that the symbols of the gateway device, the first device and the second device are connected corresponding to actual connections among the gateway device, the first device and the second device, the symbol of the first device is located at a position having a shorter distance in a preset first direction from the symbol of the gateway device than the symbol of the second device, connection interfaces of the gateway device, the first device and the second device are shown in an identifiable manner, and a button used to activate the specified remote activation function is correlated to the symbol of the device having the remote activation function. The program product according to this embodiment displays the button used to activate the remote activation function specified for each of the gateway device and the first device, in correlation to the symbol of each of the gateway device and the first device, so that the user can activate the remote activation function for at least each of the gateway device and the first device by simply clicking the corresponding button. The program product of this embodiment facilitates the user's operation from the apparatus for each of the gateway device and the first device.
The invention may be implemented by diversity of other embodiments, for example, a device management system, a method of operating the device management system, a computer program to enable the functions of the device management system and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, in which the computer program is recorded.
Claims
1. An apparatus configured to manage a system, wherein the system comprises a gateway device, a first device connected with the gateway device and a second device that is connected with the first device and has a greater number of devices intervening before the gateway device than the first device, the apparatus comprising:
- a configuration information acquirer that acquires configuration information from the gateway device, the first device and the second device, wherein the configuration information includes information indicating a device type, information indicating a type of connection interface, and connected-device identification information identifying a device connected with each device; and
- a function specifier that specifies a remote activation function activatable by the apparatus for each of the gateway device and the first device.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a display; and
- a map display controller that controls the display to display a connection configuration map that includes a symbol representing the gateway device, a symbol representing the first device and a symbol representing the second device on the display based on the acquired configuration information and the acquired connected-device identification information.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
- the connection configuration map includes connections between the symbols representing the gateway device, the first device and the second device that correspond to actual connections between the gateway device, the first device and the second device.
4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
- the symbol representing the first device is located at a position having a shorter distance in a first direction from the symbol representing the gateway device than the symbol representing the second device.
5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
- the connection configuration map includes information identifying connection interfaces of the gateway device, the first device and the second device.
6. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the connection configuration map includes a button located at a position corresponding to the symbol of the device having the remote activation function, and when the button is selected, the specified remote activation function is activated.
7. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
- the symbol representing the first device is located at a position closer to the symbol representing the gateway device than the symbol representing the second device.
8. The apparatus according to claims 1, wherein
- the function specifier specifies a remote activation function for the second device that includes a network interface as the connection interface with the first device.
9. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:
- a function tester that sends a predetermined packet to each of the gateway device, the first device and the second device and receives a response packet as a reply to the predetermined packet from each of the gateway device, the first device and the second device, wherein
- the function specifier specifies the remote activation function based on each received response packet.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein
- the remote activation function sends and receives data at a predetermined port conforming to Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) or User Datagram Protocol (UDP), and
- the predetermined packet and the response packet are sent and received via the predetermined port.
11. The apparatus according to claims 8, wherein
- when a plurality of remote activation functions are specified for at least one of the gateway device, the first device and the second device, the connection configuration map includes a button, which when selected, activates only a remote activation function with a predetermined higher priority among the plurality of specified remote activation functions.
12. The apparatus according to claims 8, further comprising:
- a history recorder that records a run history of each remote activation function performed by the apparatus for each of at least the gateway device and the first device, wherein
- when a plurality of remote activation functions are specified for at least one of the gateway device, the first device and the second device, the connection configuration map includes a button, which when selected, activates only a frequently-run remote activation function among the plurality of specified remote activation functions based on the run history of the remote activation function recorded by the history recorder.
13. The apparatus according to claims 11, wherein
- the connection configuration map includes a list display button, which when selected, causes the display to display a list of the plurality of specified remote activation functions at positions corresponding to the symbol representing the device having the specified remote activation functions.
14. The management device according to claims 8, wherein
- the remote activation function includes at least one of a function of displaying a settings window for each device on the display and a function of displaying a list of at least one electronic file stored in a memory unit of at least one of the gateway device, the first device and the second device, on the display.
15. The management device according to claims 1, wherein
- the configuration information acquirer acquires the configuration information and the connected-device identification information with respect to the second device via a bus interface that connects the second device with the first device, from the first device that has obtained the configuration information and the connected-device identification information from the second device.
16. A method of managing a system by using a apparatus having a display, wherein the system comprises a gateway device, a first device connected with the gateway device and a second device that is connected with the first device and has a greater number of devices intervening before the gateway device than the first device, the method comprising:
- acquiring, by the apparatus, configuration information from the gateway device, the first device and the second device, wherein the configuration information includes information indicating a device type, information indicating a type of a connection interface and connected-device identification information that identifies a device connected to the each device; and
- specifying, by the apparatus, a remote activation function activatable by the management device for each of the gateway device and the first device.
17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:
- displaying, by the display of the apparatus, a connection configuration map, wherein the connection configuration map includes a symbol representing the gateway device, a symbol representing the first device and a symbol representing the second device on the display based on the acquired configuration information and the acquired connected-device identification information, the symbol representing the first device being located at a position having a shorter distance in a first direction from the symbol representing the gateway device than the symbol representing the second device, connections between the symbols representing the gateway device, the first device and the second device that correspond to actual connections between the gateway device, the first device and the second device, information identifying connection interfaces of the gateway device, the first device and the second device, and a button located at a position corresponding to the symbol of the device having the remote activation function, and when the button is selected, the specified remote activation function is activated.
18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer program instructions, which when executed by an apparatus, causes the apparatus to perform a method of managing a system comprising a gateway device, a first device connected with the gateway device and a second device that is connected with the first device and has a greater number of devices intervening before the gateway device than the first device, the method comprising:
- acquiring configuration information from the gateway device, the first device and the second device, wherein the configuration information includes information indicating a device type, information indicating a type of a connection interface and connected-device identification information that identifies a device connected with the each device; and
- specifying a remote activation function activatable by the management device for each of the gateway device and the first device.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 18, wherein the method further comprises:
- displaying a connection configuration map, wherein
- the connection configuration map includes a symbol representing the gateway device, a symbol representing the first device and a symbol representing the second device on the display based on the acquired configuration information and the acquired connected-device identification information, the symbol representing the first device being located at a position having a shorter distance in a first direction from the symbol representing the gateway device than the symbol representing the second device, connections between the symbols representing the gateway device, the first device and the second device that correspond to actual connections between the gateway device, the first device and the second device, information identifying connection interfaces of the gateway device, the first device and the second device, and a button located at a position corresponding to the symbol of the device having the remote activation function, and when the button is selected, the specified remote activation function is activated.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 6, 2012
Publication Date: Oct 11, 2012
Applicant: Buffalo Inc. (Nagoya-shi)
Inventors: Hideki ISHII (Nagoya-shi), Goki Ichikawa (Nagoya-shi)
Application Number: 13/441,487
International Classification: G06F 15/173 (20060101);